Does Dyslexia Affect Speech? Understanding the Relationship
When people think of dyslexia, they often associate it with reading struggles. However, it is more than that; dyslexia is a lifelong condition that affects how the brain processes written and spoken language.
For some, dyslexia affects the ability to find the right words in conversation, leading to pauses, frustration, or reliance on vague language. Others may struggle with processing spoken information quickly, making it difficult to follow directions, engage in discussions, or keep up in fast-moving conversations. Structuring ideas in a logical way can also be a challenge, making storytelling, explaining concepts, or even responding in social settings more difficult. These challenges can impact confidence in both academic and professional settings, affecting everything from classroom participation to workplace interactions and public speaking.
Understanding how dyslexia affects speech can help create a more supportive environment. Whether you have dyslexia or know someone who does, recognizing this connection helps improve communication and support.
Key Takeaways:
Dyslexia Affects More Than Reading: It also influences speech and communication by impacting language processing.
Speech Challenges in Dyslexia: Individuals may struggle with word retrieval, pronunciation, organizing thoughts, and phonological awareness.
Impact on Daily Life: Dyslexia-related speech difficulties can affect school, work, and social interactions, leading to frustration or hesitation in speaking.
Supporting Individuals with Dyslexia: Patience, clear communication, and alternative expression methods can foster confidence and ease in conversations.
Differences Between Dyslexia and Other Speech Disorders
How Dyslexia Can Affect Speech and Communication
How Dyslexia Can Affect Non-Verbal Communication
The Impact on Daily Communication
The Connection Between Dyslexia and Confidence in Speaking
How You Can Support Someone with Dyslexia in Communication
What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is often associated with reading difficulties or written language, but its impact goes far beyond literacy. Many children and adults with dyslexia experience challenges in verbal communication, such as retrieving words quickly, organizing thoughts clearly, and following fast-paced conversations. These difficulties can make daily interactions, professional communication, and social engagement more frustrating and overwhelming.
Remember that dyslexia isn’t a sign of low intelligence or lack of effort—it’s simply a different way of learning and processing language. With the proper support, individuals with dyslexia can develop strong communication skills and succeed in school, work, and everyday life.
Differences Between Dyslexia and Other Speech Disorders
Here’s how dyslexia differs from other speech disorders:
Dyslexia vs. Speech Apraxia
Speech apraxia is a motor speech disorder in which the brain has difficulty coordinating the movements needed for speech. This results in inconsistent pronunciation errors and difficulty forming words, even when the person knows what they want to say.
In contrast, dyslexia impacts language processing and phonological awareness rather than the physical ability to produce speech sounds.
Dyslexia vs. Stuttering
Stuttering is a childhood-onset fluency disorder that causes interruptions in speech, such as repetitions, prolongations, or blocks. People with dyslexia may hesitate while speaking or struggle with word retrieval, but their pauses are due to language processing delays rather than disruptions in speech fluency.
What Causes Stuttering In Adults
Check out our blog on what causes stuttering in adults for more information!
Dyslexia vs. Phonological Disorders
Phonological disorders involve difficulty organizing speech sounds into words, often leading to persistent mispronunciations beyond the typical developmental stage. Dyslexia can involve phonological processing difficulties, but it primarily affects reading and spelling rather than the ability to produce specific sounds correctly.
While dyslexia and speech disorders can sometimes overlap, they have distinct causes and require different types of intervention.
How Dyslexia Can Affect Speech and Communication
Because dyslexia influences how the brain processes language, some individuals may experience challenges in verbal expression.
Word Retrieval Difficulties – Finding the right words can take longer, leading to pauses or substitutions.
Pronunciation Challenges – Longer or unfamiliar words may be difficult to pronounce, sometimes resulting in mixed-up syllables or mispronunciations.
Processing and Expressing Thoughts – Organizing words into sentences can be tricky, making speech more hesitant or fragmented.
Poor Phonological Awareness – Recognizing and manipulating sounds in words can be challenging, affecting reading and spoken language. This may lead to difficulties with rhyming, breaking words into syllables, or pronouncing certain letter combinations.
How Dyslexia Can Affect Non-Verbal Communication
Dyslexia can also influence non-verbal communication. While dyslexia does not directly impair the ability to use gestures or facial expressions, individuals with dyslexia may experience subtle difficulties in areas related to social communication, including:
Interpreting Body Language and Facial Expressions – Some individuals with dyslexia may struggle to interpret facial expressions or body language, affecting their ability to grasp social cues.
Timing and Coordination of Gestures – Dyslexia can sometimes be associated with mild motor coordination difficulties, affecting how smoothly a person uses gestures while speaking.
Word Retrieval and Non-Verbal Cues – Because dyslexia can make word retrieval more difficult, some individuals may rely more heavily on gestures to express themselves when they struggle to find the right words.
Understanding Social Contexts – Processing delays in language may make it harder for some individuals with dyslexia to follow fast-paced conversations, which can impact their ability to respond appropriately in social situations.
While dyslexia does not directly impair non-verbal communication, it can influence how a person engages in social interactions.
The Impact on Daily Communication
Dyslexia-related speech challenges can affect daily life, from the workplace to social interactions and school settings. While intelligence and creativity are unaffected, difficulties with language processing can sometimes make communication overwhelming.
At Work
Expressing ideas clearly in meetings, explaining concepts, or keeping up with fast-paced discussions can be challenging. This may lead to misunderstandings or hesitation in speaking up. Research shows a higher prevalence of speech issues among individuals with dyslexia, which can further complicate workplace communication.
In Social Settings
Finding the right words or keeping up with conversations can be frustrating, sometimes making social interactions feel exhausting. Dyslexia and stuttering share common features, affecting social interactions and potentially leading to avoiding group discussions or feeling left out.
At School
Reading aloud, participating in class discussions, or answering questions on the spot can be stressful. Some students may hesitate to speak, fearing mispronunciations or difficulty organizing thoughts.
Despite these challenges, many people with dyslexia develop strategies for communicating effectively. Support, patience, and accommodations can help them feel more confident expressing themselves.
The Connection Between Dyslexia and Confidence in Speaking
Dyslexia-related speech difficulties can lower self-esteem, making verbal communication stressful. Struggles with word retrieval, mispronunciations, and processing delays often cause hesitation, leading to anxiety and social withdrawal.
Speaking challenges can be particularly noticeable in group discussions or public settings, where quick responses are expected. Fear of mistakes may lead individuals to avoid conversations, reinforcing self-doubt.
How Speech Therapy Can Help
Speech therapy can be a valuable tool for individuals with dyslexia. Focusing on language processing and speech patterns can help improve clarity, confidence, and fluency in everyday conversations.
Improving Word Retrieval and Fluency – Licensed speech-language pathologists use techniques to help individuals find words more easily and speak more smoothly, reducing pauses and hesitation. The benefit of therapy is that it enhances verbal communication, which is crucial for effective literacy development.
Strengthening Phonological Awareness – Exercises focusing on recognizing and manipulating sounds in spoken and written language can improve pronunciation, reading fluency, and overall communication.
Building Confidence for Work, School, and Social Settings – Practicing structured conversations and learning coping strategies can help individuals feel more comfortable speaking in different situations.
Personalized Coaching – Every person’s challenges are unique, so therapy provides tailored strategies to address specific communication difficulties, helping individuals express themselves more effectively.
With the right support, people with dyslexia can develop stronger communication skills and feel more at ease in their daily interactions.
How You Can Support Someone with Dyslexia in Communication
Supporting someone with dyslexia goes beyond just being patient—it’s about fostering an environment where they feel heard, valued, and confident in expressing themselves. Here are some ways to help:
Give them time to respond. Allow extra time for processing and forming responses.
Listen without judgment. Be patient and supportive without interrupting.
Avoid overcorrecting. Focus on understanding rather than pointing out mistakes.
Encourage alternative communication methods. Let them use writing, drawing, or technology to express themselves.
Use clear and simple language. Speak in short, straightforward sentences.
Be mindful of background noise and distractions. Create a quiet space to help with focus.
Offer written or visual aids. Provide notes, pictures, or digital tools for support.
Promote a supportive environment. Foster a space where they feel safe to communicate.
Encourage self-advocacy. Help them build confidence in expressing their needs.
Be patient and understanding. Show kindness and reassure them as they communicate.
Making minor adjustments can help someone with dyslexia feel more comfortable and confident in communication.
Note that early intervention can aid early language acquisition, improving a person’s ability to recognize sounds, form words, and develop literacy skills more effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dyslexia
1. Does dyslexia affect speech?
Dyslexia can affect verbal communication because it impacts the brain's ability to process language. Some individuals may struggle with word retrieval, pronunciation, or organizing their thoughts in conversation.
While dyslexia primarily affects reading and writing, it can also influence speech fluency and confidence in verbal interactions.
2. Does dyslexia make it hard to speak?
Dyslexia doesn’t directly cause difficulty in speaking, but it can make verbal expression more challenging. Some people with dyslexia may pause frequently, substitute words, or mispronounce certain sounds, especially in longer or unfamiliar words. These difficulties stem from language processing differences rather than an issue with speech production itself.
3. What are the symptoms of speech dyslexia?
There is no official diagnosis of "speech dyslexia," but some individuals with dyslexia may experience:
Difficulty finding the right words (word retrieval issues)
Trouble pronouncing complex or unfamiliar words
Pauses or hesitations in speech
Difficulty organizing thoughts into clear sentences
Challenges with phonological awareness, such as recognizing sounds in words
These symptoms vary from person to person, and with support, many individuals develop strategies to communicate more effectively.
How Connected Speech Pathology Can Help
At Connected Speech Pathology, we help individuals with dyslexia strengthen their communication skills so they can express themselves with confidence and ease.
We focus on practical, personalized strategies to improve spoken communication. Our speech-language pathologists help individuals with dyslexia develop stronger verbal expression, improve processing and listening skills, and organize their thoughts more clearly in conversation.
For children, this means gaining confidence in classroom discussions, social interactions, and everyday conversations. For adults, it means improving workplace communication, participating more actively in meetings, and expressing ideas more clearly in both personal and professional settings.
By providing individualized support and real-world practice, we help individuals with dyslexia build the skills they need to deal with conversations more easily and feel empowered in their communication. Whether it’s improving fluency, processing information more efficiently, or gaining confidence in social and professional interactions, our goal is to make communication less of a challenge and more of a strength.
Summary
Dyslexia can affect speech and communication, but individuals can overcome these challenges with the right strategies and support. Understanding how dyslexia impacts language processing allows us to create a more inclusive and supportive environment.
About the Author
Allison Geller is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and the owner of Connected Speech Pathology. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Florida in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including telepractice, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and private practice. She has worked extensively with individuals across the lifespan including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, fluency disorders, brain injury, and swallowing disorders.
Allison served as the clinical coordinator of research in aphasia in the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Speech Pathology Network (CORSPAN), a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) certified clinician, and a proud Family Empowerment Scholarship/Step-Up For Students provider. Allison is passionate about delivering high quality-effective treatment remotely because it’s convenient and easy to access. What sets us apart from other online speech therapy options is—Allison takes great care to hire the very best SLPs from all over the country.
